Caladium plant named ‘White Dynasty’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘White Dynasty’, characterized by its upright and mounding plant habit; intermediate to tall plant size; uniform potted plant habit with or without de-eyeing tubers; vigorous and dense growth habit; fast growth rate; and lance-type leaves that are white and greyed green with few random red purple-colored spots, dark green-colored margins and greyed green-colored venation.

Botanical designation: Caladium×hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘WHITE DYNASTY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referred to as a lance leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘White Dynasty’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container and garden performance and attractive foliage coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2003, in Lake Placid, Fla. of Caladium×hortulanum ‘White Wing’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Caladium×hortulanum ‘Aaron’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Lake Placid, Fla. on Aug. 15, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by tuber divisions in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Lake Placid, Fla. since Apr. 15, 2005 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘White Dynasty’ . These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘White Dynasty’ as a new and distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Upright and mounding plant habit; intermediate to tall plant         size.     -   2. Uniform potted plant habit with or without de-eyeing tubers.     -   3. Vigorous and dense growth habit.     -   4. Fast growth rate.     -   5. Lance-type leaves that are white and greyed green with few         random red purple-colored spots, dark green-colored margins and         greyed green-colored venation.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘White Wing’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium grow faster than plants of ‘White         Wing’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium have broader leaves than plants of         ‘White Wing’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘White Wing’ differ in leaf         coloration as plants of ‘White Wing’ have white and         green-colored leaves with mottled green-colored margins and pink         to white-colored venation.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Aaron’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are shorter and more mounding than         plants of ‘Aaron’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium have broader leaves than plants of         ‘Aaron’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Aaron’ differ in leaf         coloration as plants of ‘Aaron’ have white and green- colored         leaves with white-colored venation.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of ‘Jackie Suthers’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lake Placid, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plants of ‘Jackie Suthers’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium grew slower than plants of ‘Jackie         Suthers’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium were taller and more upright than         plants of ‘Jackie Suthers’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Jackie Suthers’ differed in         leaf coloration as plants of ‘Jackie Suthers’ had white and         green-colored leaves with green-colored margins and         white-colored venation.

Plants of the new Caladium can also be compared to plants of ‘Grey Ghost’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lake Placid, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plants of ‘Grey Ghost’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were shorter and more mounding         than plants of ‘Grey Ghost’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium had ovate-shaped leaves whereas         plants of ‘Grey Ghost’ had cordate-shaped leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Grey Ghost’ differed in leaf         coloration as plants of ‘Grey Ghost’ had white and green-colored         leaves with white-colored venation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium plant. These photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium plant.

The photograph at the top of first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘White Dynasty’ grown from non de-eyed tubers in a container in a shadehouse.

The photograph at the bottom of first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘White Dynasty’ grown from de-eyed tubers in a container in a shadehouse.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘White Dynasty’.

The photograph at the top of the third sheet is a top perspective view of typical plants of ‘White Dynasty’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet is a close-up view of typical freshly-dug tubers and roots of ‘White Dynasty’.

The photograph at the top of the fourth sheet is a side perspective view of typical potted plants of the female parent, ‘White Wing’ (left), ‘White Dynasty’ (center) and the male parent, ‘Aaron’ (right).

The photograph at the bottom of the fourth sheet is a side perspective view of typical potted plants of ‘Jackie Suthers’ (left), ‘White Dynasty’ (center) and ‘Grey Ghost’ (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 15-cm containers in Avon Park, Fla. in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse (30% shade) and plants grown in ground beds in an outdoor nursery in Zolfo Springs, Fla. during the late summer and autumn. All plants were grown under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercial Caladium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 20° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from about 10° C. to 26° C. and light levels were about 8,000 foot-candles (shadehouse) or 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles (outdoor nursery). Plants had been growing in the shadehouse for nine weeks from planting tubers when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. Plants had been growing in the outdoor nursery for six months from planting tuber divisions when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium×hortulanum ‘White Dynasty’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘White Wing’,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘Aaron’, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By tuber divisions.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             24° C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments             ovate in shape. Height: About 3.1 cm. Diameter: About             3.6 cm. Texture: Thick and starchy; somewhat brittle. Color:             Epidermis, between 165B and N170C to N170D, just below             surface, close to 36A; interior, close to 155B to 4D. Root             description: Dense, thick, fleshy contractile roots with few             lateral branches; color, close to 155C. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant             in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and also suitable as a             landscape plant. Plant and growth habit: Upright and             mounding plant habit; intermediate to tall plant size;             inverted triangle; vigorous and dense growth habit; rapid             growth rate; petioles and leaves arise from one or more             growing points on tubers; petioles mostly upright and             leaning outwardly with development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of leaf plane,             shadehouse-grown plants.—About 21 cm to 25 cm.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of inflorescences,             shadehouse-grown plants.—About 34.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shadehouse-grown plants.—About 37             cm to 43 cm.         -   Number of clumps per plant, shadehouse-grown plants.—About             15 from tubers.         -   Cataphylls, shadehouse-grown plants.—Length: About 5 cm to             8 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm to 2.1 cm. Shape: Triangular,             wedge-shaped. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Sheathing the stem.             Color, inner and outer surfaces: Close to N155A             streaked/tessellated with close to 147A to 147B; with             development, color becoming closer to N199B stained with             close to 187B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Length, shadehouse-grown plants.—About 15 cm to 18.5 cm.         -   Width, shadehouse-grown plants (flattened).—About 8.4 cm to             13 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Sagittate to cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire with broad undulations.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glaucous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color, shadehouse-grown plants.—Developing leaves, upper             surface: Center: Areas of close to 155C, close to 194B and             close to 194C; occasional random spots towards the base,             close to 59B. Margins: Towards the margins, close to 147A             and close to 194B; margins, close to 147A and close to             N189A; basal notch, close to 59A. Venation: Midrib, close to             194C to 194D; primary veins, close to 194B. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Center: Close to 155C. Margins:             Towards the margins, close to 147B to 147C; margin, close to             147B tinged with close to N138C; basal notch, close to 59A.             Venation: Midrib, close to 147C tinged with close to 160D;             primary veins, close to 147C, streaks, close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Center: Areas of close to             155C and close to 194C; occasional random spots mostly             towards the base, close to 155C faintly tinged with close to             59B and close to 59B. Margins: Towards the margins, close to             147A, close to 146A and close to 194B; margins, close to             147A and close to N189A; basal notch, close to 59A.             Venation: Midrib, close to 194B; primary veins, close to             194B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Center: Areas             close to 155C and close to 147C. Margins: Towards the             margins, close to 147B to 147C, close to 146B to 146C and             close to 155C; margin, close to 147B tinged with close to             N138C; basal notch, close to 59A. Venation: Midrib, close to             147C tinged with close to 160D; primary veins, close to             147C, streaks, close to 146B.         -   Petiole.—Aspect: Mostly erect, outwardly leaning and arching             with development; flexible. Length, shadehouse-grown plants:             About 16 to 18 cm. Diameter, distal, shadehouse-grown             plants: About 3.5 mm. Diameter, proximal, shadehouse-grown             plants: About 8 mm to 13 mm. Color, shadehouse-grown plants:             Close to 147B tinged with close to 199D and             streaked/tessellated with close to 147A and close to 187B.             Wing length, shadehouse-grown plants: About 7 cm to 9 cm.             Wing diameter, shadehouse-grown plants: About 7.5 mm to             9 mm. Wing color, shadehouse-grown plants, outer and inner             surfaces: Close to N155A streaked/tessellated with close to             147A to 147B. -   Inflorescences description: Inflorescences observed on     shadehouse-grown plants.     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes             surrounding a columnar spadix borne on a tall upright scape;             spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers             separated into two zones; female flowers arranged on the             lower one-third of the spadix; male flowers arranged on the             upper two-thirds of the spadix; sterile flowers develop             between female and male flower zones; near this area, the             spathe constricts and surrounds and encloses the female             flowers; spathe open and cupped around male flowers.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season/longevity.—Plants of the new             Caladium typically flower during the spring or early summer             in central Florida; flowers develop about ten weeks after             growth commences; inflorescences last about three days             before fading; inflorescences persistent.         -   Spathe.—Length: About 12.3 cm; open length, about 8.9 cm and             closed length, about 3.4 cm. Width, distal: About 3 cm.             Width, proximal: About 2.5 cm. Width, at constriction: About             1.7 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute to acuminate. Base:             Tapering to the peduncle. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Front surface:             Upper two-thirds: Close to 155C tinged with close to 157A;             with development, color becoming closer to 199C to 199D.             Lower one-third: Close to 147C to 147D; with development,             color becoming closer to 147B streaked/ mottled with close             to 146B to 146C. Rear surface: Upper two-thirds: Close to             155A tinged with close to 145C. Lower one-third: Close to             147B streaked with close to 146B to 146C. Spadix: Length:             About 7.1 cm. Length, male flower zone: About 4.3 cm.             Length, female flower zone: About 1.8 cm. Length, sterile             flower zone: About 1 cm. Diameter, male flower zone: About             1.1 cm. Diameter, female flower zone: About 1 cm. Diameter,             sterile flower zone: About 8 mm. Shape: Columnar. Apex:             Obtuse. Base: Obtuse. Aspect: Upright. Color, mature, male             zone: Close to 158D tinged with close to 150D. Color,             mature, sterile zone: Close to 158D tinged with close to             150D. Color, mature, female zone: Close to 20D. Male             flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 180. Shape: Obovate.             Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Anthers: None             observed. Female flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 140.             Shape: Obovate. Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Stigma color: Close to 20D. Ovary color: Close to 155D.             Scape: Length: About 22.2 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Strength: Sturdy; flexible. Aspect: Erect. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous; glaucous. Color: Close to 147A tinged with close             to 146A with fine and faint striations/tessellations close             to 147A and close to 187B; just below spathe, close to 148B.             Seed and fruit: Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Caladium have been     observed to be relatively tolerant to Pythium root rot and     Xanthomonas leaf blight. Plants of the new Caladium have not been     observed to be resistant to pests or other pathogens common to     Caladium plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about     40° C. and suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. 

1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘White Dynasty’ as illustrated and described. 